Newcastle still in the relegation battle: The Magpies drew with Wolves

Newcastle United had a chance to leapfrog Brighton in the relegation battle, but like so many times this season, failed to do so, and with Saturday’s draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, they remain just one place above a disaster called the Championship: 1-1.

The Magpies have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games. In fact, they have lost more league games in 2021 than any other Premier League side, and they needed the win badly, but at the end, they almost lost this one as well. Wolves, who are drifting between 9th and 14th place in the table should have finished off the team who is in a relegation battle but just couldn’t do it.

In an interesting game with plenty of chances, both teams could have won, but eventually, they settled for their fifth 1-1 draw in a row. Without the injured striker Callum Wilson, Steve Bruce had to put the 46 million euros flop Joelington up front, and he also changed the goalkeepers, bringing back Martin Dubravka to be the number 1.

The first half was dynamic, with both teams with their chances to score. Newcastle were more active in the first 30 minutes, while the Wolves had their chances in the last 15 minutes of the first half. Both teams relied upon their powerful left-footed attackers Saint-Maximin and Adama Traore to create chances. Newcastle had the first big chance in the 12th minute when Almiron broke down the right but slammed his shot off the bottom of the post. Kraft and Joelington had decent chances before Saint-Maximin scored, but the goal was disallowed since the Frenchman was offside.

After half an hour, Wolves decided to try to attack Newcastle, and they did so for the next fifteen minutes. First, it was Traore in the 31st minute, but his header was not precise. Then the best chance for Wolves came in the 34th minute when Traore again burned Krafth and found Pedro Neto, who only fired wide. Newcastle were also lucky in the 39th minute when VAR decided that Clark didn’t use his arm attentionally in the penalty area. In the 45th minute, Neto crossed the ball into the box, and if anybody touched it, it would have been a goal, but luckily for the hosts, no-one rushed in.

Jonjo Shelvey: Pointless running, "stand still" and "stop moving like a nutcase"

Ryan Frazer was introduced at halftime instead of Almiron and the Scotsman had an excellent cross into the penalty area where Lascelles nailed it perfectly: 1-0, 52nd minute.

After a groin injury, Saint-Maximin was subbed in the 62nd minute, and already without Almiron, who also had a knock, Newcastle were not so dangerous anymore. It was just what the Wolves needed. Without their powerful duo, Magpies allowed the guests to take the initiative, and they equalized in the 73rd minute. Neves was totally unmarked after Neto’s cross and smashed the ball into the net for 1-1.

The vast majority of Newcastle United fans just knew that the Magpies won’t have the mental strength to score the winning goal against a mediocre team. If they did, they wouldn’t be in 17th place. Joelington came close to scoring in the 81st minute, but his excellent shot was blocked on the line by Saiss. Wolves had their chance to win the game in injury time, but Dubravka made the save of the day and denied Silva.

Newcastle’s next three games will probably be crucial in their relegation battle: They play WBA, Aston Villa, and Brighton. If the Magpies want to secure survival in the top flight, they have to at least defeat The Baggies and the Seagulls.  

PREMIER LEAGUE - Round 26

Saturday

Manchester City - West Ham 2-1 (1-1)

/Dias 30', Stones 71' - Antonio 45'/

West Bromwich Albion - Brighton 1-0 (1-0)

/Bartley 11'/

Leeds - Aston Villa 0-1 (0-1)

/El Ghazi 5'/

Newcastle – Wolverhampton 1-1 (0-0)

/ Lascelles 52’ - Neves 73'/

Sunday

15.00 Leicester - Arsenal

15.00 Crystal Palace - Fulham

17.00 Tottenham - Burnley

19.30 Chelsea - Manchester United

22.15 Sheffield United - Liverpool

Monday

23.00 Everton – Southampton